Page 3 of Sweet Thing

Chapter 1

HALLO SPACEBOY

Simeon Duchamp took a steadying breath. He peeked out from behind the willow tree and exhaled a deep sigh of relief. After an hour of waiting, he saw his quarry at last. Simeon gazed longingly at the rangy figure of thirty-year-old Pieter Bayer strolling down Simsonweg and into Berlin’s Tiergarten, the public park in the heart of the city. It had been two years since he’d spoken to Pieter, his one-time best friend and the object of his undying affection.

His therapist had suggested meeting Pieter again for the sake of closure. Simeon wanted to apologize for the cruel stunt he’d played two years earlier—leaking false information to the fashion media, saying that Pieter was turning his back on all of his contracts and leaving the industry. It had caused a furor, with Pieter due to walk at the Paris shows and work with a list of high-end clients and long-term contracts.

At the time Simeon had been drunk, high, and heartbroken because Pieter found love with a British Painter, Emily Raven. Sim had been in a spiteful mood and wanted to trash Pieter’s reputation—but in the end, he just destroyed his own.

It was a warm spring day in March. Simeon watched his willowy ex-friend move gracefully toward him along the wide, tree-lined pathway. He felt the ball of longing and anxiety wrestling in his chest. Pieter was just so effortlessly lovely to gaze upon. Simeon felt the pang of loss keenly. He rested his head on the rough bark of the willow tree and sighed. Pieter’s hair was a natural sandy blond and it was longer than Sim recalled, tied in a tail, and resting below his shoulder blades. He still wore his signature black jeans, but with a petrol blue, short-sleeved T-shirt and a strange fashion backpack—front pack? Simeon couldn’t decide. Pieter still looked so young, but healthier, happier. He appeared to be chatting to himself, and Simeon wondered whether he was on a Bluetooth call.

Simeon was torn. Should he just leave and continue to be nothing more than a bad memory in Pieter’s mind? He scolded himself; he had to do it this time. He’d followed Pieter through the park several times over the past few days, admiring from afar, but always chickened out on approaching him. Pieter strolled past the tree, and Simeon gathered his courage and stepped from under the Willow boughs.

“Peety?” he called, his timbre soft, camp, and French.

Pieter stopped and turned toward the voice. He smiled widely when his eyes met Simeon Duchamp. Simeon looked older, how long had it been? Two years? Simeon had cut his hair and was now sporting a short back and sides, with long bangs. It made him look elfin rather than more masculine. It was a cute look, Pieter mused. Simeon was staring at him with a look of wonder in his dark doe eyes.

Simeon heard a whimper from the ‘front pack’, and Pieter laid his hand upon the weight and bent his head to kiss it.

“Shh, Little Bird, we’ll be off again in a moment“, he said in German.

Simeon gazed in awe as Pieter unfolded the covering flap of the ‘front pack,' to reveal his small, blond-headed baby. Pieter’s body swayed as he calmed the bundle strapped to his chest. Simeon’s breath caught in his throat.

“Shall we walk? He always has to be moving to fall asleep.“ Pieter strode off, and Simeon scurried to match his step, walking beside him in silence, offering sidelong glances at Pieter and his baby.

“How have you been Sim?“ Pieter asked conversationally, not a hint of malice in his voice.

“Um... unwell... for a while. Papa sent me to Rehab. But you know that, don’t you. I’m off the pills and booze for a year now,“ he explained hurriedly. “I wanted to say... My therapist advised that, for the sake of closure I see you. I wanted to say how sorry and ashamed I am about what I did to you. I was so messed up in the head, Pieter. I know it’s no excuse, but I’m sorry for hurting you.“

Pieter spied an empty park bench. Noting that his baby slept soundly now, he headed towards it with Simeon in tow. They sat, and scavenger pigeons gathered around their feet. Simeon kicked out, and the birds took to the wing in a panic.

“What’s your baby’s name?” Simeon inquired.

“Lukas, he’s four months.”

“Wow,” Simeon stared reverently at them both, tempted, but not daring to reach and caress the baby’s soft rosy cheek. The ball of loss still ached in his chest.

“Fatherhood suits you—Looks good on you—Not that I’m saying he’s an accessory or anything. Are you still with his mother, are you happy? Sorry, none of my business,” Simeon babbled.

Pieter grinned, same old Sim! “Me and Emily and Lukas are very much in love and very happy, Thank you. We’re moving out of the City soon. We bought a house with a big garden beside the River Havel. Emily’s second exhibition’s opening at the Franzen tonight, you know. We’re giving Mama a break, aren’t we Little Bird,” Pieter said, as he absently caressed his son’s slumber-pinked cheek. Lukas’s lips were pursed, sucking as he nursed an invisible nipple.

“You’re welcome along, Sim,” Pieter added thoughtfully.

“Seriously? Will she not kick my skinny ass out the door? I’ve heard she can get territorial about her mate.”

Pieter chuffed a laugh at the comment, careful not to wake his son. “Emily doesn’t take any shit. She’s a grounded, straightforward person and she’s very understanding. She made me see what you did from other angles. I bet she knows you better than you know yourself.”

“Is that right?”

“She won’t tolerate any of your drama Sim, but if you can keep a lid on it, and I tell her I invited you, she’ll understand,” Pieter paused for a moment.

“Everything happens for a reason, Sim. I hated you for a long time. But she helped me to see; it’s just a waste of energy, you know. It was a fucking nasty thing you did, but in the end, it meant that you got the help you needed, ja? And for me, it helped me realize what I wanted for my future, away from the fashion industry. It all seems to have worked out for the best, don’t you think? You look well, and you’re working again, and I have my arms full of love. All sins are forgiven. Move on, and be happy Sim,” Pieter stated pragmatically.

Simeon’s reverent gaze caught the blue-gray eyes of his friend. They smiled at one another in shared understanding. Simeon felt humbled. The weight he had carried in his heart for so long start to shift a little.

“I’ve really missed you, Pieter. I mean it”, Pieter nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing in reply.

“So are you out of fashion for good? You look so fantastic, your hair and skin have never looked better”, He gushed.